Implement control hitch and associated mechanism



March 27, 1951 R. w. KURTZ 2,546,192

IMPLEMENT CONTROL HITCH AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM Filed Oct. 7, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 1 R. w. KURTZ ,546,192

IMPLEMENT CONTROL HITCH AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM March 27, 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1949 n MM M w Jzzveniaz March 27, 1951 R.W. KURTZ 2,546,192

IMPLEMENT CONTROL HITCH AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM Filed 001;. '7, 1949 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEIMPLEMENT CONTROL HITCH AND ASSOCIATED MECHANISM Iowa.

Application October 7, 1949, Serial No. 120,089

it is necessary to elevate the planting mechanism from the ground anddisconnect the same from the traction wheels. All such corn planters arecapable of being raised by a hand lever which operation also disconnectsthe corn dropping mechanism. After the turn has been accomplished, thelever must again be actuated to lower the planter and place it again ingear with its traction wheels. This manual operation of I the planter bythe tractor operator is indeed tedious and difficult as well as timeconsuming.

Therefore the principal object of my invention is to provide anautomatic means that will raise the planter at the end of the plantingrow and after the turn has been made will lower it again into plantingposition.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a vehicle hitchcontrol that is economical in manufacture and durable in use.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a hitch of theclass described that is easily and quickly installed.

These and'other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device per se.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the device installed between and to thetractor and corn planter.

3 Claims. (Cl. 9747) Fig. 3 is a side view of the installed devicelowering and raising the planting shoes and placing the operatingmechanism into and out of gear. The end of the tongue I4 is horizontallyhingedly connected to the tractor draw bar I by the usual clevis means.It is to such equipment that I apply my device and which I will nowdescribe in detail.

The numeral l6 designates a sleeve fixed around the draw bar justforward of its connection with the planter tongue. Extending laterallyto each side of this sleeve is a horizontal wing frame or projectiondesignated by the numerals l1 and 8 respectively. The numeral 9designates the manual control bar having its rear end pivotally securedto the lever 5 and its length extending to near the seating area of thetractor, as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 20 designates a handle barsecured to the free end of the bar IS. The numeral 2| designates ahorizontal bar having its inner end horizontally pivoted to theforwardend portion of the planter tongue. This bar extends rearwardlyand to theleft and is in the same horizontal plane and to the rear of the Wingframe IT. The numeral 22 designates a similar horizontal bar having itsinner end horizontally pivoted to the forward end portion of the plantertongue, but extending to the right and rearwardly therefrom. This bar 22is in the same horizontal plane and to the rear of the wing frame l8 asshown in Fig. 1. The numeral 23 designates an elongated link having itsforward end horizontally pivoted to the outer end of the bar 2| and. itsother end attached .to the lever IS. The numeral 24 designates a similarelongated link having its forward end horizontally pivoted to the outerend of the bar 22 and its other end attached to the lever 5. By thisarrangement whenever either of the automatic control bars 2| or 22 areforced rearwardly, the links or either of them will move the planterlever l5 rearwardly, thereby raising the'planting shoes anddisconnecting the planting mechanism. The numeral 25 designates twoelongated link bars having their rear upper ends vertically pivoted tothe center portion of the bar I9, and their forward lower endsvertically pivoted to the forward end portion of the planter tongue.These links extend forwardly and downwardly. By usin two links they maybe spaced apart at their lower ends, as shown in Fig. 1, so that themanually controlled bar will not have undesirable lateral movement.

The practical operation of my device is as follows:

When the tractor comes to the end of the planting row and turns to theleft the win ll will engage the bar 2|, thereby forcing the link 23rearwardly and thereby moving the lever I5 rearwardly. This action willautomatically raise the 5 planting shoes and disconnect the plantingmechanism. As soonlas the turn has;been-completed and the wing IT is inforward position relative to the longitudinal axis of the planter, theweight of the plantin mechanism will exert itself to move the lever andlink forwardlyrthereby automatically lowering the planting shoesandplacing the planting mechanism in gear again. The operation of thedevice is shown by dotted lines in;

Fig. 2. If the tractor turns-to-the'right, thewing- I 8 will contact thebar 22 with the same automatic result.

There are times when it is desired to maintain. the planter in raisedcondition such as when going to or coming from the field. In such cases,

the same is accomplished by manually moving the hand control 59 and-'26downwardly'to apoint below its pivot-axis relative tothe links 25.1 Thisaction-also moves the lever- IE. to the rear, and

will maint'ain the lever insuch position until'the 25 handle 20 ismanually-elevated. While this manual control also moves upwardly anddownwardly with the automatic means, the automatic means does not move.ittosuch' a lowered position that it' 'locks:

Some changes maybe" made in the construction and 'arrangement of myimplement control hitch and associated mechanism, without departing fromthe real'spirit' and purpose of'my invention, and it is my intention tocover by my. claims, any modified forms I of" structure or useofmechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably includedwithin'their'scope;

Iclaimz- 1; In-combinationwitli attractor having a draw 40 liar-andatongued implement havinga control lever; a means for horizontallyhingedly connecting theend'of thetongue of the implement to the draw barofthe tractor, abar horizontally pivoted at its forward innerend on theforward 5 end portion of said implement tongue and extending rearwardlyand outwardly to the left of "it's-connection with said tongue; alinkconnecting he outer end of said bar-to saidscontrol' lever, a second barhorizontally pivotedi at its forward inner end on the forward endportion of'saiclimplement' tongue and? extending. rearwardly. andoutwardly to the right: of its connection with said tongue, alink-connectin the outer end'of': said second bar to said control.lever; and two onposit'ely extending horizontal. wing. members on saiddrawbar; forwardlyr adjacent of: and; in the 4v same horizontal plane assaid first and second pivoted bars respectively.

2. In combination with a tractor having a draw bar and a tonguedimplement having a control lever, a means for horizontally hingedlyconnecting the end of the tongue of the implement to the. drawbar. ofthetractor, a bar horizontally pivoted at its forward'inner end on theforward end portion of said implement tongue and extending rearwardlyand outwardly to the left of its connection with said tongue, a linkconnecting theouter; end of said bar to said control lever, a wingmember on said draw bar capable of engaging said pivotedbar and forcingit rearwardly when said" tractor turns in one direction, and a manuallyoperated handle means connected to said lever; andextending to the areaof the forwardlend of said implement tongue.

3. In combination with a tractor having a draw bar and a tonguedimplement having a control lever, a means for horizontally: hingedly'connecting the endof the. tongue of the implement to the draw bar of thetractor,- a bar horizontally pivoted at its forward'inner end on theforward end portion of said implement tongue and extendingrearwardly'and outwardly to the-left of its connection with said tongue,alink connecting the outer end of said bar to'said control, lever, asecond bar horizontally pivoted at its forward-zinner'end on the forwardend portion of said implement tongue and extending rearwardly andoutwardly to the right of itsconnection-with said tongue, a link'connectingthe; outer end of said second bar to" said controlileven. twooppositely extendinghorizontal wing members on said draw bar; forwardlyadjacent of, and in the samellorizontal plane; as said first and secondpivoted l bars respectively,- and a manually operated handle means;connected to; said. lever; and extending to the; area, of; the forwardend of said implement tongue.

RAYMOND W. KURTZ.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 1,780,955 Toth' V Nov. 11, 19302,297,788 McGehee Oct. 6, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date,

12,190/28 Australia .i Dec. 18, 1928 22499/35, Australia. May 11, 1936

